If the team is willing to have me back, I will be back. . . You never want to walk away from the game knowing you served a four-game suspension. That is really my mindset right now. So as long as I am able to continue to play football I will do that.

Now 35 years old, Davis is entering his 14th season in the NFL. He has played in 175 games, including the playoffs.

Davis is suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season for testing positive for a banned substance.

While the Panthers would probably be happy to have him back another year, it’s a bit early to say if that’s actually a good idea. Few players stay at a high level past 30 years old, let alone 35. If Davis’ abilities on the field start to slip in 2018, it may be better for the team to let him retire.

The true question may be out of Davis’ hands: if Shaq Thompson continues to develop as he has, it will put Carolina’s coaching staff in a bind. With nickel packages essentially becoming the league’s new default base defense, a difficult decision lies ahead.

Last season, Thompson played 640 defensive snaps compared to 791 for Davis. Each year, it will get more difficult for the Panthers to justify keeping Thompson off the field as much as they have.

Davis has given his whole career to the organization. His last sacrifice may be knowing when it’s time to walk and let Thompson step into the sun.